FOI/202500467988 · FOI · partially withheld
Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) information: FOI release
Information requested
You asked for the activities and public resourcing of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT).
1. Meeting Records and Decisions
Minutes, agendas, or formal notes of SNCT meetings held between 1 January 2022 and 27 May 2025. Any papers or decisions issued by the SNCT or its subcommittees regarding teacher pay progression, salary structures, or pay anomalies affecting teachers who transfer between authorities. Any correspondence or internal briefings referencing pay suppression, increment delay, or pay normalisation mechanisms. Any internal communications or briefing documents related to teacher pay suppression and SNCT negotiation processes.
2. Membership and Governance
A list of organisations and individuals (by role/title) currently sitting on the SNCT or any of its subgroups. Any governance documents, MOUs, or terms of reference relating to SNCT operations and decision-making.
3. Resourcing
Details of the Scottish Government’s role in supporting or resourcing the SNCT (financial, staffing, or governance). Any civil servants assigned to SNCT-related work, including roles and duration of support.
Response
While it is our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, some of the information you have requested is available from the SNCT website at Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.
By agreement with SNCT partners, the minutes and proceedings of sub-groups of the SNCT are withheld by convention under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA, provision of free and frank exchange of views.
This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release. However, given the need to maintain a trusted environment where SNCT partners may deliberate freely, this is outweighed by the public interest in upholding application of exemption at this time.
The SNCT is a tripartite body comprising members from teaching organisations, Local Authorities, and the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government supports the running and operations of the SNCT along with teachers organisations and COSLA. There is no Scottish Government employee specifically assigned or seconded to undertake SNCT work.
You may wish to be aware that SNCT pay meetings are taken in confidence and minutes are not produced.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Correspondence Unit Email: contactus@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
Detected exemption language
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. By agreement with SNCT partners, the minutes and proceedings of sub-groups of the SNCT are withheld by convention under section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA, provision of free and frank exchange of views. This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.
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